Liquid heating devices

Abstract

An apparatus for heating liquid comprises a heating chamber, a dispensing chamber and a conduit. The conduit conveys heated liquid from the heating chamber to the dispensing chamber for automatic dispensing. The dispensing chamber has valve means through which the heated liquid is dispensed, which are operable to interrupt the automatic dispensing. An apparatus for heating liquid comprises a heating chamber, a dispensing chamber and a conduit. The conduit conveys heated liquid from the heating chamber to the dispensing chamber for automatic dispensing. The apparatus comprises means for determining a volume of heated liquid to be dispensed automatically.

1 . An apparatus for heating liquid comprising a heating chamber, a dispensing chamber and a conduit for conveying heated liquid from said heating chamber to said dispensing chamber for automatic dispensing therefrom, wherein said dispensing chamber comprises a valve through which said heated liquid is dispensed, said valve being operable to interrupt said automatic dispensing. 
     
     
         2 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said valve is operable by a user. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said valve is coupled to switch contacts for interrupting or reducing the power to a heater for heating said heating chamber. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the switch contacts are associated with a steam-sensitive switch. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the switch contacts are independently operable to interrupt or reduce power to the heater without interrupting dispensing. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus as claimed  claim 1  wherein the dispensing chamber comprises a drainage outlet for draining liquid that has not been dispensed from the dispensing chamber. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for heating liquid comprising a heating chamber, a dispensing chamber and a conduit for conveying heated liquid from said heating chamber to said dispensing chamber for automatic dispensing therefrom, wherein said dispensing chamber comprises a drainage outlet for draining liquid that has not been dispensed from the dispensing chamber. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said drainage outlet is arranged to drain undispensed liquid into a reservoir supplying the heating chamber or back to the heating chamber. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said drainage outlet is arranged to drain undispensed liquid into a reservoir supplying the heating chamber or back to the heating chamber. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for dispensing heated liquid comprising a heating chamber and a dispensing chamber, the apparatus being configured to eject heated liquid from the heating chamber into the dispensing chamber and from there automatically to dispense said heated liquid, wherein the dispensing chamber comprises a drainage outlet arranged to drain undispensed liquid from the dispensing chamber back to the heating chamber. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 8  comprising an auxiliary chamber between the dispensing chamber and the heating chamber, the auxiliary chamber being arranged to allow liquid that has drained from the dispensing chamber to collect temporarily in the auxiliary chamber. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the drainage outlet comprises a drainage valve. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the drainage valve is manually operated. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the drainage valve is coupled to a valve controlling the dispensing of liquid from the dispensing chamber. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the drainage valve and the valve controlling the dispensing of liquid from the dispensing chamber are provided by a diverter valve arranged to direct liquid flow either to a dispense outlet or to the drainage outlet. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said drainage outlet is adapted so as to give a variable drainage flow rate. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  comprising an arrangement to control the amount of liquid dispensed from the dispensing chamber. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 17  comprising an arrangement to control the valve to interrupt dispensing. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus for heating liquid comprising a heating chamber, a dispensing chamber and a conduit for conveying heated liquid from said heating chamber to said dispensing chamber for automatic dispensing therefrom, wherein said apparatus comprises an arrangement means for determining a volume of heated liquid to be dispensed automatically. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 19  wherein said arrangement for determining a volume of heated liquid to be dispensed comprises valve through which said heated liquid is dispensed, said valve being operable to interrupt said automatic dispensing. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said arrangement for determining a volume of heated liquid to be dispensed is arranged to control the amount of liquid passing through the conduit from the heating chamber to the dispensing chamber. 
     
     
         22 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 21  wherein said conduit includes a tube extending down into the heating chamber wherein the height of the end of the tube inside the chamber is variable to vary the amount of liquid left inside the heating chamber after the heated liquid has been ejected. 
     
     
         23 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the heating chamber is configured to heat a body of liquid therein to boiling, and wherein the increase in pressure associated with boiling forces the heated liquid into the conduit and vents it into the dispensing chamber. 
     
     
         27 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 7  comprising an arrangement to control the amount of liquid heated in the heating chamber. 
     
     
         28 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . An apparatus for heating a measured amount of liquid, said apparatus comprising a heating chamber having an electric heater for heating liquid therein and a dispensing arrangement for dispensing liquid from said heating chamber, wherein said dispensing arrangement includes a manually operable valve for interrupting dispensing of said liquid wherein said valve is coupled to switch contacts for interrupting or reducing power to the electric heater. 
     
     
         37 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 36  wherein the switch contacts are associated with a steam-sensitive switch. 
     
     
         38 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 37  wherein the switch contacts are independently operable to interrupt or reduce power to the electric heater without interrupting dispensing. 
     
     
         39 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  comprising a removable liquid reservoir supplying the heating chamber. 
     
     
         40 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 9  comprising an auxiliary chamber between the dispensing chamber and the heating chamber, the auxiliary chamber being arranged to allow liquid that has drained from the dispensing chamber to collect temporarily in the auxiliary chamber. 
     
     
         41 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the drainage outlet comprises a drainage valve. 
     
     
         42 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 41  wherein the drainage valve is manually operated. 
     
     
         43 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 41  wherein the drainage valve is coupled to a valve controlling the dispensing of liquid from the dispensing chamber. 
     
     
         44 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 43  wherein the drainage valve and the valve controlling the dispensing of liquid from the dispensing chamber are provided by a diverter valve arranged to direct liquid flow either to a dispense outlet or to the drainage outlet. 
     
     
         45 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 7  wherein said drainage outlet is adapted so as to give a variable drainage flow rate. 
     
     
         46 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 7  comprising an arrangement to control the amount of liquid dispensed from the dispensing chamber. 
     
     
         47 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 46  comprising an arrangement to control the valve to interrupt dispensing. 
     
     
         48 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 46  wherein said arrangement for determining a volume of heated liquid to be dispensed is arranged to control the amount of liquid passing through the conduit from the heating chamber to the dispensing chamber. 
     
     
         49 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 48  wherein said conduit includes a tube extending down into the heating chamber wherein the height of the end of the tube inside the chamber is variable to vary the amount of liquid left inside the heating chamber after the heated liquid has been ejected. 
     
     
         50 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the heating chamber is configured to heat a body of liquid therein to boiling, and wherein the increase in pressure associated with boiling forces the heated liquid into the conduit and vents it into the dispensing chamber. 
     
     
         51 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 7  comprising a removable liquid reservoir supplying the heating chamber. 
     
     
         52 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 10  comprising an auxiliary chamber between the dispensing chamber and the heating chamber, the auxiliary chamber being arranged to allow liquid that has drained from the dispensing chamber to collect temporarily in the auxiliary chamber. 
     
     
         53 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the drainage outlet comprises a drainage valve. 
     
     
         54 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the drainage valve is manually operated. 
     
     
         55 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the drainage valve is coupled to a valve controlling the dispensing of liquid from the dispensing chamber. 
     
     
         56 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 55  wherein the drainage valve and the valve controlling the dispensing of liquid from the dispensing chamber are provided by a diverter valve arranged to direct liquid flow either to a dispense outlet or to the drainage outlet. 
     
     
         57 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 55  wherein said drainage outlet is adapted so as to give a variable drainage flow rate. 
     
     
         58 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 55  comprising an arrangement to control the amount of liquid dispensed from the dispensing chamber. 
     
     
         59 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 58  comprising an arrangement to control the valve to interrupt dispensing. 
     
     
         60 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 58  wherein said arrangement for determining a volume of heated liquid to be dispensed is arranged to control the amount of liquid passing through the conduit from the heating chamber to the dispensing chamber. 
     
     
         61 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 60  wherein said conduit includes a tube extending down into the heating chamber wherein the height of the end of the tube inside the chamber is variable to vary the amount of liquid left inside the heating chamber after the heated liquid has been ejected. 
     
     
         62 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 55  wherein the heating chamber is configured to heat a body of liquid therein to boiling, and wherein the increase in pressure associated with boiling forces the heated liquid into the conduit and vents it into the dispensing chamber. 
     
     
         63 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 55  comprising an arrangement to control the amount of liquid heated in the heating chamber. 
     
     
         64 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 55  comprising a removable liquid reservoir supplying the heating chamber. 
     
     
         65 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 19  wherein said arrangement for determining a volume of heated liquid to be dispensed is arranged to control the amount of liquid passing through the conduit from the heating chamber to the dispensing chamber. 
     
     
         66 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 65  wherein said conduit includes a tube extending down into the heating chamber wherein the height of the end of the tube inside the chamber is variable to vary the amount of liquid left inside the heating chamber after the heated liquid has been ejected. 
     
     
         67 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 19  wherein the heating chamber is configured to heat a body of liquid therein to boiling, and wherein the increase in pressure associated with boiling forces the heated liquid into the conduit and vents it into the dispensing chamber. 
     
     
         68 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 19  comprising an arrangement to control the amount of liquid heated in the heating chamber. 
     
     
         69 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 19  comprising a removable liquid reservoir supplying the heating chamber. 
     
     
         70 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 36  comprising a removable liquid reservoir supplying the heating chamber.